A Practical Guide to Sharing Your Faith

One of the most amazing privileges we have as Christians is sharing our faith with others. Yet many believers feel inadequate for the task. What we must remember is that evangelism is a cooperative effort of the entire church (1 Corinthians 3:5-9). Anytime someone comes to know Christ, it’s not because of one individual. Whether we’re cultivating relationships, planting seeds of truth, or bringing in the harvest, every believer has a role to play.

How do I begin?

We can’t rush someone through the door of salvation. Our goal should be to help them find the path to Jesus no matter how long it takes or how winding the route.

1. Be relational. Get to know the people around you by finding areas of commonality or sharing a meal. 2.Be loving. The goal is not to clean up a person’s behavior or prove them wrong, but to be an example of Christ’s love.3. Be helpful. Serving others unselfishly can soften the hearts of those who don’t know the Lord. 4.Be godly. When your life is characterized by integrity, honesty, joy, peace, compassion, and unselfishness, others will notice and be curious. 5.Be prayerful. Ask God to prepare hearts and open doors.6. Be dependent. The Holy Spirit is the one who convicts and draws a person to Jesus; your job is to obey His promptings. 7.Be gradual. Slowly move the conversation from superficial topics to thought-provoking issues, which will allow you to listen to their beliefs and share yours. 8.Be gentle. Aim for dialogue, not debate. Lovingly share your convictions without belittling or attacking theirs. 9.Be personal. You don’t have to know all the answers to deep theological questions. Just share what Jesus has done in your life. 10.Be specific. When an opportune time comes, clearly explain the plan of salvation and invite that person to accept Jesus as their Savior.

What do I say?

Although living out our faith is a powerful witness, it will never replace a verbal explanation of salvation. Every Christian should be ready to briefly explain the gospel when an opportunity arises (1 Peter 3:15).

Our Need: Sin is a problem common to all mankind, and it has created a separation between us and a holy God (Romans 3:23).

God’s Provision: Since no one could ever be good enough to earn his way back into God’s favor, He sent His Son to earth to live a perfect life and pay the full penalty for our sin by dying in our place, thereby reconciling us to Himself. (Rom. 5:8-11). Three days later Jesus rose from the grave, proving that He had won the victory over sin and death (1 Cor. 15:56-57).

Our Response: Salvation is now available as a free gift to anyone who will receive it by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). When you trust in Christ as your Savior and Lord, He’ll forgive all your sins and provide a home for you in heaven for all eternity (1 Pet. 1:3-5).

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